THREE RIVERS AREA — Last season, Quitman's main goal was to win a game. It was the school's first year to play as a varsity football team, and they achieved their goal, finishing out the season 1-9. This year, the goal has been set a bit higher.
"Our goal of course is to win," head coach Fritz Heidenreich said, "but we'd love to make the playoffs - winning the conference is a longshot. Our biggest goal is to make the playoffs, and we've got a shot at it. We've been working hard, andwe're going to sink our teeth into it to make the playoffs." The Bulldogs return six starters on offense and seven on defense, but both sides of the ball has had to learn new systems as this will be Heidenreich's first season as head coach.
"We have new schemes on offense," he said.
"We'll be throwing the ball more, and we've got some new people moving in that will add strength. We also have a lot more experience than last year."
As the season draws closer, there is some uncertainty with the defense. Although the defensive line is big and the secondary is experienced, the linebacker core will be inexperienced.
The offense, on the other hand, is shaping up much better. At the center of it is returning quarterback Tim Smith (6-1, 165). Smith threw for more than 1,300 yards and rushed for more than 500 in 2008.
"He's a versatile guy," Heidenreich said.
"And we expect big things out of him."
Assisting Smith in taking the snap will be Rose Bud transfer Aaron Parker (6-2, 170). He will split time between playing quarterback and receiver. Heidenreich said that he expects Parker to "help out the offense tremendously."
Probably the biggest strength on the Quit
man squad is the depth at receiver.
"We have six different guys who can catch
the ball well," the coach said. "And the kids
moving in will put a lot of depth there." The three main targets for Smith will be
Parker, Lance Fires (6-1, 180) and Forrest Mc-
Peake (5-6, 145).
"McPeake is one returning that had the
biggest impact last year," Heidenreich said,
"and we're expecting good things from him
this season." Elsewhere on offense, the coach added that
the line will be big, but the running backs will
be inexperienced.
Overall, it is not going to be an easy task
for Quitman to bounce back in only its second
year as a varsity football team, but the coach
pointed to the team's leadership as a reason this
year will not end with just one win.
"We have 11 seniors," Heidenreich said.
"Our leadership is our team's strength, and our
work ethic is as good as anyone's."QUITMAN BULLDOGS Sept. 4 ...................Rose Bud Sept. 11 ....... Mountain Pine* Sept. 18 .............at Bigelow* Sept. 24 ........Horatio at HSU Oct. 2 ..... Conway Christian* Oct. 9 ..................at Hector* Oct. 16 ............. LR Lutheran* Oct. 23 ............................... at Cutter Morning Star* Oct. 30 ................. Danville* Nov. 6 .....................at Ola*
Special, Pages 178 on 08/23/2009